You can see people use different types of accessories when performing workouts. While some of them wear these things for the looks others have a purpose towards wearing them.
Some of the main accessories that people choose to wear during workouts are designed to help them.
It would help improve performance and protect their body in some way. The same applies to gloves that people wear while working out.
Providing grip, reinforcing joints, and protecting them are the major tasks they assist with.
These are especially useful for people indulging in weightlifting sessions. The fingerless workout gloves are used for other activities other than weightlifting.
What are workout gloves?
Working out often puts a little more stress on the joints than usual. This means they stretch a little further than they are used to. To be able to cope up with this stress and stretching people choose to use gloves to help the wrists.
These gloves are usually made of different materials. Some are designed to absorb sweat while people use it to enhance their grips further. These are not just specific with weight lifting but for workout gloves as well.
Doing push-ups, using dumbbells, and other forms of exercise require extra reinforcement to the wrists. Using workout gloves can be the ideal way you can protect them and avoid strain on the joints.
Types of workout gloves
Categories of workout gloves are quite vast and serve different purposes. Below are the few that are commonly used by people who perform different workouts.
- Full-finger gloves used for weightlifting
- Strapless gloves for a workout that come without wrist support
- Fingerless gloves for gym workouts
- Weight-lifting gloves with wrist support and straps
- Workout-specific gloves with wrist support
While some of these are sweat absorbent others repel sweat. However, the sweat-absorbent ones are the most commonly used. This is due to the anti-slip protection that it provides people using it.
When do you need to clean the workout gloves?
Although there are specific guidelines towards the cleaning of each type of gloves, they are usually specific to people. It depends on the type of workout they do and the duration of the usage as well.
So, you would be the best person to figure out when your gloves require cleaning. Scheduling periodical cleaning can either be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. It also depends on your comfort level as to when you want the gloves to be cleaned.
If there is too much absorption of sweat with the gloves then cleaning them as often as weekly can be a good choice. This would ensure that they do not accumulate odor and salt content due to excessive sweating.
If you are not a person who sweats too much while working out then you can choose to have them cleaned either bi-weekly or monthly. This would ensure that your gloves are clean, odor-free, and serve the purpose they are intended to.
Best ways to clean workout gloves
The different ways in which you clean can differ depending on the type of gloves that you use. However, we look at the best ways to clean the common types of gloves used during workouts.
The two types of cleaning include simple hand washing of the gloves and the other one being washing them with soap powder or solution. Remember, you should never put your gloves in a washing machine as they may end up wearing and tearing off too quickly.
The alternative to clean workout gloves can be to use baking soda instead of liquid soap or powder. However, in case you use baking soda you might want to use a freshening liquid while you rinse them.
Simple hand washing
This method is commonly used by people who are not involved in strenuous workouts and do not sweat as much. Using warm water and leaving your gloves to soak for a couple of minutes and rinsing them off would be sufficient.
A simple method such as this can also be for people who have their gloves cleaned as regularly as twice a week or every week. This may not require you to use a soap solution or rubbing it excessively.
You can squeeze your gloves and dry them indoors and avoid drying them in direct sunlight. By following these guidelines, you would prolong the life of the gloves that you wear for your workouts.
Using liquid soap or powder
The process of washing your workout gloves using soap liquid or powder is relatively the same. Soaking your gloves in warm water mixed with soap for a few minutes should be good enough.
This soaking would ensure that the salt accumulation and odor are removed completely from your gloves. After a few minutes, you can rinse them thoroughly in cold water and leave them to dry.
Protecting against direct sunlight is also necessary for this process of cleaning. This can ensure that there is no cake formation on your gloves. This process is common with people who are into heavy workouts and weightlifting.
Results of cleaning the gloves
The results that you achieve after cleaning your gloves would be having a pair of odor-free gloves. They would begin providing you with a similar kind of grip and protection as they did when you had purchased them.
Apart from them being odorless, they can also provide you a fresh fragrance from the soaps that you use. They would be cleaner than they were before you had them washed using either of these processes.
It would also get your gloves free of any bacteria accumulation due to the sweat that it absorbs. Using baking soda can help in absorbing the moisture and remove the stink that comes along with it.
Conclusion
Although we have specified two different and most common methods of cleaning you might want to refer to the user manual of your gloves. This is because certain types of gloves can come with cleaning instructions.
Almost with all types of gloves, it is better if you do not use any strong chemicals or soaps. The water should never be hot and the best temperature for cleaning purposes would be warm.
If you can follow these basic steps you can be assured that your gloves would have a long life in terms of usage. Always ensure that you purchase high-quality gloves. This can also be a factor in them lasting longer than the cheap ones in the market.
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